Sweet grape tomato

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 and hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 and hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing a plant of tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756 with itself or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another line or variety. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Appl. Ser. No.60/966,546, filed Jun. 13, 2007, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato lineCHD 15-2114 and tomato variety BX 0154 3756.

2. Description of Related Art

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include greateryield, resistance to diseases, insects or other pests, tolerance to heatand drought, better agronomic quality, higher nutritional value,enhanced growth rate and improved fruit properties.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same genotype. A plant cross-pollinates if pollen comes to it from aflower of a different genotype.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for a uniform typeover many generations become homozygous at almost all gene loci andproduce a uniform population of true breeding progeny of homozygousplants. A cross between two such homozygous plants of differentvarieties produces a uniform population of hybrid plants that areheterozygous for many gene loci. The extent of heterozygosity in thehybrid is a function of the genetic distance between the parents.Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number of lociproduces a segregating population of hybrid plants that differgenetically and are not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makesperformance unpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crossed progeny. Pedigree breeding and recurrentselection are examples of breeding methods that have been used todevelop inbred plants from breeding populations. Those breeding methodscombine the genetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various otherbroad-based sources into breeding pools from which new lines aredeveloped by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new linesare evaluated to determine which of those have commercial potential.

One crop species that has been subject to such breeding programs and isof particular value is the tomato. The common tomato, Solanumlycopersicum (formerly Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is widelycultivated domestically and internationally. Of the approximately500,000 acres of tomatoes grown annually in the United States, roughly40% are grown for fresh market consumption, with the balance grown forprocessing.

Most cultivated tomatoes are diploid, self-fertile and mostlyself-pollinating, with hermaphroditic flowers. Tomatoes having differentploidy levels are not uncommon and were already known in the 1920's and30's (Linstrom, 1940). Prior to the mid-1970's, most commercialcultivars were pure breeding lines. Since then, better performing hybridcultivars have been replacing the pure breeding lines. Today, mostcommercial varieties are hybrids. Due to its wide dissemination and highvalue, the tomato species has been intensively bred, providing a widevariety of lines with different traits. Tomato fruits from differentcultivars show tremendous variation in weight and shape. Commongroupings in the marketplace include the cherry, plum, pear, standard(or round), and beefsteak types.

While breeding efforts to date have provided a number of useful tomatolines and varieties with beneficial traits, there remains a great needin the art for new lines and varieties with further improved traits.Such plants would benefit farmers and consumers alike by improving cropyield and/or fruit quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides tomato plants comprising at leasta first set of the chromosomes of tomato line CHI 15-2113 or tomato lineCHD 15-2114. In another aspect, the present invention provides a tomatoplant of said lines or progeny thereof, such as a hybrid tomato plant ofthe variety BX 0154 3756 or progeny thereof. Also provided are tomatoplants having all the physiological and morphological characteristics oftomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomatovariety BX 0154 3756. Parts of the tomato plants of the presentinvention are also provided, for example, including pollen, an ovule, afruit, a scion, a rootstock and a cell of the plant.

The invention also concerns seed of tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato lineCHD 15-2114 and tomato variety BX 0154 3756. The tomato seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population oftomato seed. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed are generallyfree from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seed of line CHI15-2113, line CHD 15-2114 and tomato variety BX 0154 3756 may be definedas forming at least about 97% of the total seed, including at leastabout 98%, 99%, or more of the seed. In certain embodiments, thepopulation of tomato seed may be particularly defined as beingessentially free from hybrid seed. The seed population may be separatelygrown to provide an essentially homogeneous population of tomato plantsdesignated tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 and tomatovariety BX 0154 3756.

In another aspect of the invention, tissue cultures of regenerable cellsof plants of tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 and hybridtomato variety BX 0154 3756 are provided. Such a tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating plants capable of expressing allof the physiological and morphological characteristics of a plant oftomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomatovariety BX 0154 3756, and of regenerating plants having substantiallythe same genotype as either or these. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of this line and varietyinclude those traits set forth in the respective tables herein. Theregenerable cells in such tissue cultures may be derived, for example,from embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots,root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks. Still further, the presentinvention provides tomato plants regenerated from a tissue culture ofthe invention, the plants having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of a plant of tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD15-2114 or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756.

The invention also concerns methods of vegetatively propagating a plantof tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomatovariety BX 0154 3756. In certain embodiments, the method comprises thesteps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from a plantof tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomatovariety BX 0154 3756; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferatedshoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rootedplantlets. In some of these embodiments, the method further comprisesgrowing plants from said rooted plantlets.

In further aspects, the invention provides genetic complement of tomatoline CHI 15-2113 or tomato line CHD 15-2114. It yet further aspects, italso provides hybrid genetic complements, as represented by tomato plantcells, tissues, plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of ahaploid genetic complement of a tomato plant of tomato line CHI 15-2113or tomato line CHD 15-2114 with a haploid genetic complement of a secondtomato plant, preferably, another, distinct tomato plant. For example,the genetic complement of hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756 isprovided. In other embodiments, the present invention provides a tomatoplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

The phrase “genetic complement” is used to refer to the aggregate ofnucleotide sequences, the expression of which defines the phenotype of,in the present case, a tomato plant of, or a cell or tissue of thatplant. A genetic complement thus represents the genetic makeup of acell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid genetic complement represents thegenetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue or plant. The invention thusprovides tomato plant cells that have a genetic complement in accordancewith the tomato plant cells disclosed herein, and plants, seeds andplants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., gene expressionprofiles, gene product expression profiles and isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that line CHI 15-2113, line CHD 15-2114 or a firstgeneration progeny, such as hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756, could beidentified by any of the many well known techniques such as, forexample, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al.,1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of determining thegenotypes of tomato plants, such as those of tomato line CHI 15-2113,tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756,comprising detecting in the genome of the plant at least a firstpolymorphism. The method may, in certain embodiments, comprise detectinga plurality of polymorphisms in the genome of the plant. The method mayfurther comprise storing the results of the step of detecting theplurality of polymorphisms on a computer readable medium. The inventionfurther provides a computer readable medium produced by such a method.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a plant of a hybrid tomatovariety that exhibits a trait comprising a capacity to produce maturefruit having a sugar content from about 9.0 degrees Brix to about 10.0degrees Brix and a weight from about 6.0 g to about 8.0 g. In certainembodiments, the trait may be defined as controlled by genetic means forthe expression of the trait found in tomato variety BX 0154 3756.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a plant of a grapetomato variety that exhibits a combination of traits comprisingresistance to tomato mosaic virus and a capacity to produce mature fruithaving a sugar content from about 9.0 degrees Brix to about 10.0 degreesBrix. In some embodiments, the plant is resistant to all races of tomatomosaic virus; in other embodiments the plant is resistant to races 0, 1,and 2 of tomato mosaic virus. In certain embodiments, the combination oftraits may be defined as controlled by genetic means for the expressionof the combination of traits found in tomato variety BX 0154 3756.

In a further aspect of the invention, the sugar content of the maturefruit falls within a range, for example, having a lower value of about8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, or 9.5 degrees Brix,and an upper value of about 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6,10.7, 10.8, 10.9 or 11.0 degrees Brix, including all ranges derivabletherefrom.

In another aspect of the invention, the weight of the mature fruit fallswithin a range, for example, having a lower value of about 5.0, 5.1,5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, or 6.5grams, and an upper value of about 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8.0, 8.1,8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9 or 9.0 grams, including allranges derivable therefrom.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing tomatoes comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of tomato line CHI15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collectingtomatoes from the plant.

In yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing tomato seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent tomato plant with a second parenttomato plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent tomatoplants is a plant of line CHI 15-2113, line CHD 15-2114 or variety BX0154 3756. These processes may be further exemplified as processes forpreparing hybrid tomato seed or plants, wherein a first tomato plant iscrossed with a second tomato plant of a different, distinct line toprovide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, the tomato plant lineCHI 15-2113 or line CHD 15-2114. In one embodiments of the invention,tomato lines CHI 15-2113 and CHD 15-2114 are crossed to produce hybridseed of the variety designated BX 0154 3756. In any cross herein, eitherparent may be the male or female parent. In certain embodiments thefemale parent of the hybrid is a plant of line CHI 15-2113. In the aboveprocesses, crossing will result in the production of seed. The seedproduction occurs regardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent tomato plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent tomato plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the male portions of flowers, (i.e., treating ormanipulating the flowers to produce an emasculated parent tomato plant).Self-incompatibility systems may also be used in some hybrid crops forthe same purpose. Self-incompatible plants still shed viable pollen andcan pollinate plants of other varieties but are incapable of pollinatingthemselves or other plants of the same line.

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent tomato plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent tomato plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a tomato plant or hybrid tomatoplant.

The present invention also provides the tomato seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent tomato plant with asecond parent tomato plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent tomato plants is a plant of line CHI 15-2113, line CHD 15-2114 orvariety BX 0154 3756. In one embodiment of the invention, tomato seedand plants produced by the process are first generation (F₁) hybridtomato seed and plants produced by crossing a plant in accordance withthe invention with another, distinct plant. In one such embodiment, thefirst generation (F₁) hybrid tomato seed and plants produced are of thehybrid tomato variety designated BX 0154 3756. The present inventionfurther contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybrid tomato plant, andmethods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of theinvention provide an F₁ hybrid tomato plant and seed thereof.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of producinga plant or a seed derived from tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD15-2114 or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from tomato line CHI15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756,wherein said preparing comprises crossing a plant of tomato line CHI15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756with a second plant; and (b) selfing the progeny plant or crossing it tothe second plant or to a third plant to produce a seed of a progenyplant of a subsequent generation. In certain embodiments, the plant oftomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomatovariety BX 0154 3756 is the female parent. In other embodiments theplant of tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybridtomato variety BX 0154 3756 is the male parent.

The method may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration and selfing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation orcrossing it to the second, the third, or a further plant; and repeatingthe steps for an additional 3-10 generations to produce a further plantderived from tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybridtomato variety BX 0154 37560. The further plant derived from tomato lineCHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomato variety BX 01543756 may be an inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossingsteps may be defined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce theinbred line. In the method, it may be desirable to select particularplants resulting from step (c) for continued crossing according to steps(b) and (c). By selecting plants having one or more desirable traits, aplant derived from tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 orhybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756 is obtained which possesses some ofthe desirable traits of the variety as well as potentially otherselected traits.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides for the plants and seedsproduced by the above process.

In additional embodiments, the method provided by the invention furthercomprises doubling the chromosome number of tomato line CHI 15-2113,tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756 to producea tetraploid tomato plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of tomato line CHI 15-2113,tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756 comprisingan added heritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise agenetic locus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. Inone embodiment of the invention, a plant of tomato line CHI 15-2113 ortomato line CHD 15-2114 is defined as comprising a single locusconversion. For example, one or more heritable traits may beintrogressed at any particular locus using a different allele thatconfers the new trait or traits of interest. In specific embodiments ofthe invention, the single locus conversion confers one or more traitssuch as, for example, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, diseaseresistance and modulation of plant metabolism and metabolite profiles.In further embodiments, the trait may be conferred by a naturallyoccurring gene introduced into the genome of the line by backcrossing, anatural or induced mutation, or a transgene introduced through genetictransformation techniques into the plant or a progenitor of any previousgeneration thereof. When introduced through transformation, a geneticlocus may comprise one or more genes integrated at a single chromosomallocation.

For example, in certain embodiments, the invention provides methods ofintroducing a desired trait into a plant of the invention comprising:(a) crossing a plant of tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756 with a second tomato plant thatcomprises a desired trait to produce F1 progeny, (b) selecting an F1progeny that comprises the desired trait, (c) crossing the selected F1progeny with a plant of tomato line CHI 15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756 to produce backcross progeny, and(d) selecting backcross progeny comprising the desired trait and thephysiological and morphological characteristic of tomato line CHI15-2113, tomato line CHD 15-2114 or hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756.The invention also provides tomato plants produced by these methods.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of error for the device or method being employed to determinethe value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean“and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only orthe alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosuresupports a definition that refers to only alternatives and to “and/or.”When used in conjunction with the word “comprising” or other openlanguage in the claims, the words “a” and “an” denote “one or more,”unless specifically noted. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include”are open-ended linking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more ofthese verbs, such as “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,”“includes” and “including,” are also open-ended. For example, any methodthat “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limitedto possessing only those one or more steps and also covers otherunlisted steps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or“includes” one or more traits is not limited to possessing only thoseone or more traits and covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,plant parts, seeds and derivatives of hybrid tomato variety BX 01543756, as well as parent plants capable of being crossed to produce thisvariety, designated tomato line CHI 15-2113 and tomato line CHD 15-2114.In general, all three can be characterized as orange grape tomatoes.

Hybrid tomato variety BX 0154 3756 exhibits a number of improved traitssuch as high sugar content, resistance to tomato mosaic virus (alsoreferred to as tobacco mosaic virus, see e.g. Table 3, below), and fruithaving an average weight at maturity of about 7.0 grams, a light greenshoulder that does not persist when the fruit is mature, and jointedfruit attachment. The variety also exhibits resistance to a number ofdiseases, including Verticillium wilt race 1, Fusarium Wilt race 1, allraces of Tomato Mosaic Virus resistance, including races 0, 1, and 2,Alternaria Stem Canker, and Bacterial Speck race 0. Thus this variety iswell suited to commercial production, including green house production.As with its parent lines, the variety may exhibit a minor degree ofparthenocarpy. This variety shows genetic uniformity and stability andhorticultural uniformity and stability within the limits ofenvironmental influence for the traits described hereinafter. Theparents of BX 0154 3756 are particularly useful for the production ofhybrid varieties based on the beneficial traits conferred in hybridcombination.

The development of the lines and varieties of this invention can besummarized as follows.

A. Origin and Breeding History

The parental inbred lines of hybrid orange grape tomato BX 0154 3756were derived by crossing determinate red grape tomato CHD 15-2059 withorange cherry ‘OC-1’. Line OC-1 was characterized by high levels ofsugar and an orange cherry color resulting from the presence of thetangerine (tan) gene, a monogenic recessive.

This hybrid was selfed and a large F2 population was grown in agreenhouse in Woodland, Calif. Out of nine total F2 selections, twofixed orange (tangerine gene) selections were flagged for variousattributes. One was line CHI 15-2113. This line was fixed indeterminate,but Tomato Mosaic Virus (ToMV) susceptible. The other line, CHD 15-2114,was fixed determinate and ToMV resistant. These two lines continued tobe selfed and selected, fixing resistance to Fusarium wilt (Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. lycopersici) race 1, Alternaria Stem Canker (Alternariaalternata f. sp. lycopersici), and Bacterial Speck (Pseudomonas syringaepv. tomato) race 0 in each line. At least one of the parents was fixedfor resistance to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) race 1. Afterthese lines were fixed for all disease resistances cited above and forhorticultural characteristics related to productivity, quality andgoodness of fit for market needs, they were progeny increased. Duringthe progeny increases, each line remained fixed and stable. Each linealso provides sufficient seed yield.

By crossing parent plant lines CHI 15-2113, as the female parent, andCHD 15-2114, as the male parent, uniform F1 hybrid progeny wereobtained, designated BX 0154 3756. The sugar content achieved in themature fruit of the F1 progeny was higher than in the mature fruit ofeither parent, with laboratory testing indicating degrees Brix around 9,10 or higher. This is about 2 degree Brix higher than current grapetomatoes in the market. Combined with a fairly moderate level ofacidity, BX 0154 3756 is markedly sweeter tasting than most other tomatovarieties tested. Further, the orange cherry germplasm of this varietycomprises resistance to all races of Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), whichextends the suitability of this variety to greenhouse production, aswell as field production.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics

Tomato cultivars may be grouped by maturity, i.e. the time required fromplanting the seed to the stage where fruit harvest can occur. Standardmaturity classifications include ‘early’, ‘midseason’ or‘late-maturing’. Another classification for tomatoes is thedevelopmental timing of fruit set. ‘Determinant’ plants grow foliage,then transition into a reproductive phase of flower setting, pollinationand fruit development. Consequently, determinant cultivars have a largeproportion of the fruit ripen within a short time frame. Growers thatharvest only once in a season favor determinant type cultivars. Incontrast, ‘indeterminate’ types grow foliage, then enter a long phasewhere flower and fruit development proceed along with new foliar growth.Growers that harvest the same plants multiple times favor indeterminatetype cultivars. In response to more recent consumer demands for dietarydiversity, tomato breeders have developed a wider range of colors. Inaddition to expanding the range of red colored fruits, there arecultivars that produce fruits that are creamy white, lime green, yellow,green, golden, orange and purple. Additionally, there are multi-coloredvarieties exemplified by mainly red fruited lines with green shoulders,and both striped- and variegated-colored fruit. Standard methods fordetermining tomato fruit color are described, for instance, in Gull etal. (1989) and Kader et al. (1978), both of which are incorporated byreference herein.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of tomato line CHI 15-2113. A description of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of tomato line CHI15-2113 is presented in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line CHI15-2113 Value for CHARACTERISTIC Line CHI 15-2113* 1. SeedlingAnthocyanin in hypocotyl of 2-15 cm Present seedling Habit of 3-4 weekold seedling Normal 2. Mature Plant 200 cm Height Growth IndeterminateForm Lax, open Size of canopy (compared to others) Medium HabitSprawling (decumbent) 3. Stem Branching Sparse (‘Brehm's Solid Red’,‘Fireball’) Branching at cotyledonary or first Absent leafy node No. ofnodes below the first 4-6 inflorescence No. of nodes between early(1^(st)-2^(nd), 3-4 2^(nd)-3^(rd)) inflorescences No. of nodes betweenlater- 3-4 developing inflorescences Pubescence on younger stemsSparsely hairy (scattered long hairs) 4. Leaf (mature leaf beneath the3^(rd) inflorescence) Type Tomato Margins of major leaflets Shallowlytoothed or scalloped Marginal rolling or wiltiness Slight Onset ofleaflet rolling Late season Surface of major leaflets Smooth PubescenceNormal 5. Inflorescence (made observation on 3^(rd) inflorescence) TypeSimple Number of flowers in inflorescence, 10 average Leafy or “running”inflorescences Absent 6. Flower Calyx Normal, lobes awl-shapedCalyx-lobes Approx. equaling corolla Corolla color Yellow Stylepubescence Sparse Anthers All fused into tube Fasciation (1^(st) flowerof 2^(nd) or 3^(rd) Absent inflorescence) 7. Fruit (3^(rd) fruit of2^(nd) or 3^(rd) cluster) Abscission layer Present (jointed) Point ofdetachment of fruit at Generally at stem scar, harvest but sometimes atcalyx Length of pedicel (from joint to 8 mm calyx attachment) Length ofmature fruit (stem axis) 26 mm Diameter of fruit at widest point 18 mmWeight of mature fruit 7 g No. of locules 2 Fruit surface Smooth Fruitbase color (mature-green stage) Light green Fruit pattern (mature greenstage) Uniform green Shoulder color Light green Fruit color - full ripeOrange Flesh color - full ripe Orange Flesh color Uniform Locular gelcolor of table-ripe fruit Yellow Ripening Uniform Epidermis color YellowEpidermis Normal Epidermis texture Tender Thickness of pericarp Under 3mm 8. Disease and Pest Reaction Viral Tobacco mosaic, Race 0 SusceptibleTobacco mosaic, Race 1 Susceptible Tobacco mosaic, Race 2 SusceptibleTomato spotted wilt Susceptible Tomato yellows Susceptible BacterialBacterial canker Susceptible (Corynebacterium michiganense) Bacterialspeck (Pseudomonas Resistant tomato) Bacterial spot (XanthomonasSusceptible vesicatorium) Bacterial wilt (Pseudomonas Susceptiblesolanacearum) Fungal Brown root rot or corky root Susceptible(Pyrenochaeta lycopersici) Fusarium wilt, Race 1 Resistant Fusariumwilt, Race 2 Susceptible Fusarium wilt, Race 3 Susceptible Gray leafspot (Stemphylium Susceptible spp.) 9. Chemistry and Composition ofFull- Ripe Fruits pH 4.69 Titratable acidity, as % citric 5.58 Totalsolids (dry matter, seeds and 9.98 skin removed) Soluble solids, as°Brix 8.57 10. Phenology Seeding to 50% flower (1 open 45 days flower on50% of plants) Seed to once-over harvest 78 days Fruiting season MediumRelative maturity in areas tested Early 11. Adaptation CultureGreenhouse Principal use Fresh market Machine harvest Not adaptedRegions to which adaptation has California: Sacramento and beendemonstrated Upper San Joaquin Valley *These are typical values. Valuesmay vary due to environment. Other values that are substantiallyequivalent are within the scope of the invention.

Seed of tomato line CHI 15-2113 has been planted in different years. Theplants grown from this seed have shown homozygosity and phenotypicstability to make it useful in commercial tomato or tomato seedproduction. No variant traits have been observed or are expected forthis variety.

Also in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of tomato line CHD 15-2114. A description of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of tomato line CHD15-2114 is presented in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line CHD15-2114 Value for CHARACTERISTIC Line CHD 15-2114* 1. SeedlingAnthocyanin in hypocotyl of 2-15 cm Present seedling Habit of 3-4 weekold seedling Normal 2. Mature Plant 120 cm Height Growth DeterminateForm Lax. open Size of canopy (compared to others) Medium HabitSprawling (decumbent) 3. Stem Branching Sparse (‘Brehm's Solid Red’,‘Fireball’) Branching at cotyledonary or first Absent leafy node No. ofnodes below the first 4-6 inflorescence No. of nodes between early(1^(st)-2^(nd), 3-4 2^(nd)-3^(rd)) inflorescences No. of nodes betweenlater- 3-4 developing inflorescences Pubescence on younger stemsSparsely hairy (scattered long hairs) 4. Leaf (mature leaf beneath the3^(rd) inflorescence) Type Tomato Margins of major leaflets Shallowlytoothed or scalloped Marginal rolling or wiltiness Slight Onset ofleaflet rolling Late season Surface of major leaflets Smooth PubescenceNormal 5. Inflorescence (made observation on 3^(rd) inflorescence) TypeSimple Number of flowers in inflorescence, 10 average Leafy or “running”inflorescences Absent 6. Flower Calyx Normal, lobes awl-shapedCalyx-lobes Approx. equaling corolla Corolla color Yellow Stylepubescence Sparse Anthers All fused into tube Fasciation (1^(st) flowerof 2^(nd) or 3^(rd) Absent inflorescence) 7. Fruit (3^(rd) fruit of2^(nd) or 3^(rd) cluster) Abscission layer Present (jointed) Point ofdetachment of fruit at Generally at stem scar, harvest but sometimes atcalyx Length of pedicel (from joint to 8 mm calyx attachment) Length ofmature fruit (stem axis) 25 mm Diameter of fruit at widest point 20 mmWeight of mature fruit 7.5 g No. of locules 2 Fruit surface Smooth Fruitbase color (mature-green stage) Medium green Fruit pattern (mature greenstage) Green shoulder Shoulder color Dark green [at mature green] Fruitcolor - full ripe Orange Flesh color - full ripe Orange Flesh colorUniform Locular gel color of table-ripe fruit Yellow Ripening UniformEpidermis color Yellow Epidermis Normal Epidermis texture TenderThickness of pericarp Under 3 mm 8. Disease and Pest Reaction ViralTobacco mosaic, Race 0 Resistant Tobacco mosaic, Race 1 ResistantTobacco mosaic, Race 2 Resistant Tomato spotted wilt Susceptible Tomatoyellows Susceptible Bacterial Bacterial canker Susceptible(Corynebacterium michiganense) Bacterial speck (Pseudomonas Resistant[race 0] tomato) Bacterial spot (Xanthomonas Susceptible vesicatorium)Bacterial wilt (Pseudomonas Susceptible solanacearum) Fungal Brown rootrot or corky root Susceptible (Pyrenochaeta lycopersici) Fusarium wilt,Race 1 Resistant Fusarium wilt, Race 2 Susceptible Fusarium wilt, Race 3Susceptible Gray leaf spot (Stemphylium Susceptible spp.) 9. Chemistryand Composition of Full- Ripe Fruits pH 4.88 Titratable acidity, as %citric 4.12 Total solids (dry matter, seeds and 9.94 skin removed)Soluble solids, as °Brix 9.19 10. Phenology Seeding to 50% flower (1open 45 days flower on 50% of plants) Seed to once-over harvest 76 daysFruiting season Early-Medium Relative maturity in areas tested VeryEarly 11. Adaptation Culture Greenhouse Principal use Fresh marketMachine harvest Not adapted Regions to which adaptation has California:Sacramento and been demonstrated Upper San Joaquin Valley, Ontario,Canada, Sinaloa, Mexico *These are typical values. Values may vary dueto environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent arewithin the scope of the invention.

Seed of tomato line CHD 15-2114 has been planted in different years. Theplants grown from this seed have shown homozygosity and phenotypicstability to make it useful in commercial tomato or tomato seedproduction. No variant traits have been observed or are expected forthis variety.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a planthaving the physiological and morphological characteristics of tomatovariety BX 0154 3756. A description of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of tomato variety BX 0154 3756 ispresented in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Variety BX0154 3756 Value for CHARACTERISTIC Variety BX 0154 3756* 1. SeedlingAnthocyanin in hypocotyl of 2-15 cm Present seedling Habit of 3-4 weekold seedling Normal 2. Mature Plant 200 cm Height Growth IndeterminateForm Lax, open Size of canopy (compared to others) Medium HabitSprawling (decumbent) 3. Stem Branching Sparse (‘Brehm's Solid Red’,‘Fireball’) Branching at cotyledonary or first Absent leafy node No. ofnodes below the first 4-6 inflorescence No. of nodes between early(1^(st)-2^(nd), 3-4 2^(nd)-3^(rd)) inflorescences No. of nodes betweenlater- 3-4 developing inflorescences Pubescence on younger stemsSparsely hairy (scattered long hairs) 4. Leaf (mature leaf beneath the3^(rd) inflorescence) Type Tomato Margins of major leaflets Shallowlytoothed or scalloped Marginal rolling or wiitiness Slight Onset ofleaflet rolling Late season Surface of major leaflets Smooth PubescenceNormal 5. Inflorescence (made observation on 3^(rd) inflorescence) TypeSimple Number of flowers in inflorescence, 10 average Leafy or “running”inflorescences Absent 6. Flower Calyx Normal, lobes awl-shapedCalyx-lobes Approx. equaling corolla Corolla color Yellow Stylepubescence Sparse Anthers All fused into tube Fasciation (1^(st) flowerof 2^(nd) or 3^(rd) Absent inflorescence) 7. Fruit (3^(rd) fruit of2^(nd) or 3^(rd) cluster) Abscission layer Present (jointed) Point ofdetachment of fruit at Generally at stem scar, harvest but sometimes atcalyx Length of pedicel (from joint to 8 mm calyx attachment) Length ofmature fruit (stem axis) 23 mm Diameter of fruit at widest point 20 mmWeight of mature fruit 7 g No. of locules 2 Fruit surface Smooth Fruitbase color (mature-green stage) Light green Fruit pattern (mature greenstage) Green shouldered Shoulder color Grey green Fruit color - fullripe Orange Flesh color - full ripe Orange Flesh color Uniform Loculargel color of table-ripe fruit Yellow Ripening Uniform Epidermis colorYellow Epidermis Normal Epidermis texture Tender Thickness of pericarpUnder 3 mm 8. Disease and Pest Reaction Viral Tobacco mosaic, Race 0Resistant Tobacco mosaic, Race 1 Resistant Tobacco mosaic, Race 2Resistant Tomato spotted wilt Susceptible Tomato yellows SusceptibleBacterial Bacterial canker Susceptible (Corynebacterium michiganense)Bacterial speck (Pseudomonas Resistant tomato) Bacterial spot(Xanthomonas Susceptible vesicatorium) Bacterial wilt (PseudomonasSusceptible solanacearum) Fungal Brown root rot or corky rootSusceptible (Pyrenochaeta lycopersici) Fusarium wilt, Race 1 ResistantFusarium wilt, Race 2 Susceptible Fusarium wilt, Race 3 Susceptible Grayleaf spot (Stemphylium Susceptible spp.) Verticillium wilt, Race 1 (V.albo Resistant -atrum) 9. Chemistry and Composition of Full- Ripe FruitspH 4.57 Titratable acidity, as % citric 5.79 Total solids (dry matter,seeds and 10.01 skin removed) Soluble solids, as °Brix 9.53 10.Phenology Seeding to 50% flower (1 open 45 days flower on 50% of plants)Seed to once-over harvest 78 days Fruiting season Medium Relativematurity in areas tested Early 11. Adaptation Culture GreenhousePrincipal use Fresh market Machine harvest Not adapted Regions to whichadaptation has California: Sacramento and been demonstrated Upper SanJoaquin Valley *These are typical values. Values may vary due toenvironment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are withinthe scope of the invention.

Seed of variety BX 0154 3756 has been planted in different years. Theplants grown from this seed have shown homozygosity and phenotypicstability to make it useful in commercial tomato production. No varianttraits have been observed or are expected for this variety.

C. Breeding Tomato Plants of the Invention

The development of new lines or varieties using one or more startinglines is well known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novellines may be created by selfing a plant of variety BX 0154 3756 or bycrossing a plant of line CHI 15-2113, line CHD 15-2114 or variety BX0154 3756 with any second plant, followed by multiple generations ofbreeding according to such well known methods. In selecting such asecond plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines, it maybe desired to choose those plants that either themselves exhibit one ormore selected desirable characteristics or that exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initial crosses havebeen made, inbreeding and selection may be undertaking to produce newline and varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five ormore generations of selfing and selection are involved.

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for crossing lineCHI 15-2113, line CHD 15-2114 or variety BX 0154 3756 with itself or asecond plant and the seeds and plants produced by such methods.Furthermore, the methods of this invention provide for the developmentof true breeding lines after a plant of line CHI 15-2113 or line CHD15-2114 has been crossed with a plant of a different line or variety orafter a plant of variety BX 0154 3756 has been selfed or crossed with aplant of a different line or variety.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner, true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with lineCHI 15-2113, line CHD 15-2114 or variety BX 0154 3756 and progenythereof to achieve a homozygous line.

New true breeding lines may also be developed by combining the methodsof classical breeding and the doubled-haploid techniques discussedabove. Thus new lines or varieties may be created, for example, byselfing a plant of variety BX 0154 3756 or by crossing a plant of lineCHI 15-2113, line CHD 15-2114 or variety BX 0154 3756 with any secondplant followed my one or more generations of inbreeding and selection.Doubled haploid techniques may be applied to the plants at any desiredgenerational level to produce true breeding lines.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant or F1 hybridprogeny derived therefrom. Backcrossing transfers one or more heritabletraits from one inbred or non-inbred source to an inbred that lacksthose traits. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on thecharacteristic(s) or trait(s) being altered to determine an appropriatetesting protocol. When the term line CHI 15-2113, line CHD 15-2114 orvariety BX 0154 3756 is used in the context of the present invention,this also includes plants modified to include at least a first desiredheritable trait.

This can be accomplished, for example, by first crossing a superiorinbred (recurrent parent) to a donor inbred (non-recurrent parent),which carries the appropriate genetic information (e.g., an allele) atthe locus or loci relevant to the trait in question. The progeny of thiscross are then mated back to the recurrent parent followed by selectionin the resultant progeny (first backcross generation, or BC1) for thedesired trait to be transferred from the non-recurrent parent. Afterfive or more backcross generations with selection for the desired trait,the progeny are heterozygous at loci controlling the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The parental tomato plant which contributes the desired characteristicor characteristics is termed the non-recurrent parent because it can beused one time in the backcross protocol and therefore need not recur.The parental tomato plant to which the locus or loci from thenon-recurrent parent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent asit is used for several rounds in the backcrossing protocol.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,male sterility, herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal,or viral disease, insect resistance, restoration of male fertility,modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, and enhanced nutritionalquality. These comprise genes generally inherited through the nucleus.

In one embodiment, progeny tomato plants of a backcross in which lineCHI 15-2113 or line CHD 15-2114 is the recurrent parent comprise (i) thedesired trait from the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of line CHI 15-2113 orline CHD 15-2114 as determined at the 5% significance level when grownin the same environmental conditions.

Direct selection or screening may be applied where the single locus(e.g. allele) acts in a dominant fashion. For example, when selectingfor a dominant allele providing resistance to a bacterial disease, theprogeny of the initial cross can be inoculated with bacteria prior tothe backcrossing. The inoculation then eliminates those plants which donot have the resistance, and only those plants which have the resistanceallele are used in the subsequent backcross. This process is thenrepeated for all additional backcross generations.

Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristicbeing transferred is a dominant allele, recessive, co-dominant andquantitative alleles may also be transferred. In this instance, it maybe necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if thedesired locus has been successfully transferred. In the case where thenon-recurrent line was not homozygous, the F1 progeny would not beequivalent. F1 plants having the desired genotype at the locus ofinterest could be phenotypically selected if the corresponding trait wasphenotypically detectable in a heterozygous or hemizygous state. In thecase where a recessive allele is to be transferred and the correspondingtrait is not phenotypically detectable in the heterozygous of hemizygousstate, the resultant progeny can be selfed, or crossed back to the donorto create a segregating population for selection purposes.Non-phenotypic tests may also be employed. Selected progeny from thesegregating population can then be crossed to the recurrent parent tomake the first backcross generation (BC1).

Molecular markers may also be used to aid in the identification of theplants containing both a desired trait and having recovered a highpercentage of the recurrent parent's genetic complement. Selection oftomato plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent on the phenotypeof a plant and instead can be based on genetic investigations. Forexample, one can utilize a suitable genetic marker which is closelygenetically linked to a trait of interest. One of these markers can beused to identify the presence or absence of a trait in the offspring ofa particular cross, and can be used in selection of progeny forcontinued breeding. This technique is commonly referred to as markerassisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or other assay thatis able to identify the relative presence or absence of a trait ofinterest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes. Proceduresfor marker assisted selection applicable to the breeding of tomato arewell known in the art. Such methods will be of particular utility in thecase of recessive traits and variable phenotypes, or where conventionalassays may be more expensive, time consuming or otherwisedisadvantageous. Types of genetic markers which could be used inaccordance with the invention include, but are not necessarily limitedto, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al.,1990), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR), Randomly Amplified PolymorphicDNAs (RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), SequenceCharacterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed PolymeraseChain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs)(EP 534 858, specifically incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al.,1998).

Tomato varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

Manipulation of ploidy-level is another technique which can be used toimprove an inbred plant. The ploidy level of an organism refers to thenumber of complete sets of chromosomes typically found in each cell.Natural variation in ploidy level is common among many plants. Sincecrosses between species that differ in ploidy level may fail or mayproduce sterile offspring, it may be advantageous to change the ploidylevel of one parent so that the ploidy levels are matched before makingthe cross. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, uniformlines of new tomato varieties may be developed by way of diploidreversions. This technique involves, in the case of a tetraploid, forexample, reducing the plant's genome to diploid. Techniques for thereduction of ploidy levels include androgenesis using anther cultures,as reported, for example, in Kopecky et al., 2005. Suitable cells mayinclude microspores, pollen, anther and ovary cultures. A plant producedby such methods for use in the technique is called a diploid reversion.A diploid reversion may then be crossed and/or backcrossed with otherdiploid tomato plant varieties. After ploidy manipulation and/orbreeding is complete, the number of chromosome sets of a suitablediploid progeny plant may be increased back to the original ploidy level(Linstrom, 1940).

Methods for increasing the ploidy level of a diploid plant are also wellknown in the art. For example, by treating cells of a diploid plant withcolchicine, tetraploid plants may be retrieved. Triploids may be formed,for example, by fertilizing a doubled-haploid ovule with haploid pollen.Other techniques for manipulating ploidy levels include somatichybridization or protoplast fusion. Any of such techniques may be usedin accordance with the invention.

Tomatoes are grown for use as rootstocks or scions. Typically, differenttypes of tomatoes are grafted to enhance disease resistance, which isusually conferred by the rootstock, while retaining the horticulturalqualities usually conferred by the scion. It is not uncommon forgrafting to occur between Solanum lycopersicum lines and related Solanumspecies. Methods of grafting and vegetative propagation are well-knownin the art.

The lines and varieties of the present invention are particularly wellsuited for the development of new lines or varieties based on the elitenature of the genetic background of the variety. In selecting a secondplant to cross with line CHI 15-2113, line CHD 15-2114 or variety BX0154 3756 for this purpose, it will typically be preferred to choosethose plants that either themselves exhibit one or more selecteddesirable characteristics or that exhibit the desired characteristic(s)when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirable characteristics mayinclude, but are not limited to herbicide tolerance, pathogen resistance(e.g., insect resistance, nematode resistance, resistance to bacterial,fungal, and viral disease), male fertility, improved harvestcharacteristics, enhanced nutritional quality, increased antioxidantcontent, improved processing characteristics, high yield, improvedcharacteristics related to the fruit flavor, texture, size, shape,durability, shelf life, and yield, improved vine habit, increasedsoluble solids content, uniform ripening, delayed or early ripening,reduced blossom end scar size, seedling vigor, adaptability for soilconditions, and adaptability for climate conditions. Qualities that maybe desirable in a processing tomato are not necessarily those that wouldbe desirable in a fresh market tomato; thus, the selection process fordesirable traits for each specific end use may be different. Forexample, certain features, such as solids content, and firm fruit tofacilitate mechanical harvesting are more desirable in the developmentof processing tomatoes; whereas, external features such as intensity anduniformity of fruit color, unblemished fruit, and uniform fruit size aretypically more important to the development of a fresh market productthat will have greater retailer or consumer appeal. Of course, certaintraits, such as disease and pest resistance, high yield, andconcentrated fruit set are of interest in any type of tomato line orvariety.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, variety BX 0154 3756 exhibits desirable agronomictraits, including high sugar content and resistance to tomato mosaicvirus. Sugar content of this variety relative to other varieties werethe subject of an objective analysis. The results of the analysis arepresented below.

TABLE 4 Average Degrees Brix Comparison For Grape Tomatoes Year 1 Year 2BX 0154 3756 9.74 9.43 SANTA 7.74 7.95 CUPID 7.33 7.40 LSD .05 0.68 0.73Means with a different letter are significantly different based onWaller-Duncan Baysian LSD, K = 100 (P = 0.05).

In both years, the trials were conducted in the same location inWoodland, Calif. Both trials were transplanted during the first week ofMay and harvested for laboratory evaluation during the first week ofAugust. The average titratable acidity, measured during these trials wasabout 5.79, which is a moderate level.

As shown above, variety BX 0154 3756 exhibits superior sugar contentwhen compared to competing lines. Tomatoes of variety BX 0154 3756 arealso sweeter than those of its parental lines. For example, tomatoes ofline CHI 15-2113 were found to have an average degrees Brix of 8.57,with a range of 7.81 to 8.90, and tomatoes of line CHD 15-2114 werefound to have an average degrees Brix of 8.98, with a range from 8.16 to9.23. The higher level of degrees Brix of hybrid variety BX 0154 3756may result from heterosis, hybrid vigor, or synergistic effects.

One important aspect of the invention thus provides seed of hybridvariety BX 0154 3756 for commercial use.

E. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those that are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into the hybrid tomato variety of theinvention or may, alternatively, be used for the preparation of linescontaining transgenes that can be subsequently transferred to the lineof interest by crossing. Methods for the transformation of plants,including tomato, are well known to those of skill in the art.Techniques which may be employed for the genetic transformation oftomato include, but are not limited to, electroporation, microprojectilebombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, pollen-mediatedtransformation, and direct DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

To effect pollen-mediated transformation, one may apply pollenpretreated with DNA to the female reproductive parts of tomato plantsfor pollination. A pollen-mediated method for the transformation oftomato is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,806,399.

A particularly efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segmentsto plant cells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particlesare coated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target tomato cells. The screen disperses the particles sothat they are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.It is believed that a screen intervening between the projectileapparatus and the cells to be bombarded reduces the size of projectilesaggregate and may contribute to a higher frequency of transformation byreducing the damage inflicted on the recipient cells by projectiles thatare too large.

Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., 1985). Moreover, recent technological advances in vectorsfor Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer have improved the arrangementof genes and restriction sites in the vectors to facilitate theconstruction of vectors capable of expressing various polypeptide codinggenes. The vectors described have convenient multi-linker regionsflanked by a promoter and a polyadenylation site for direct expressionof inserted polypeptide coding genes. Additionally, Agrobacteriumcontaining both armed and disarmed Ti genes can be used fortransformation.

In those plant species where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., 1985; Omirulleh et al., 1993; Fromm et al., 1986;Uchimiya et al., 1986; Marcotte et al., 1988). Transformation of plantsand expression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(1994), and Ellul et al. (2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for tomato plant geneexpression include, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus(CaMV) P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expressionin most plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., 1985), including monocots(see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, 1990); atandemly, partially duplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, theenhanced 35S promoter (P-e35S) the nopaline synthase promoter (An etal., 1988), the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., 1989); and thefigwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where thepromoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem, the cauliflowermosaic virus 19S promoter, a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter, acommelina yellow mottle virus promoter, and other plant DNA viruspromoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can beused for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells, includingpromoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., 1988), (2) light (e.g.,pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding protein promoter,Simpson et al., 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid (Marcotte etal., 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., 1987; Schernthaner et al., 1988; Bustos et al., 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to the tomato lines andvarieties of this invention include, for example, DNA sequences or genesfrom another species, or even genes or sequences which originate with orare present in the same species, but are incorporated into recipientcells by genetic engineering methods rather than classical reproductionor breeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intendedto refer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a tomato plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a tomato plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference it their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., 1991). The RNA could also be a catalytic RNA molecule (e.g., aribozyme) engineered to cleave a desired endogenous mRNA product (seefor example, Gibson and Shillito, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces aprotein or mRNA which expresses a phenotype or morphology change ofinterest is useful for the practice of the present invention.

F. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Alleles: Alternate forms of a single gene.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to transfergenetic information (e.g., an allele) from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor conferring malesterility or a chemical agent.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Locus: A designated location on a chromosome.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,a heritability of 1.

Polyploid: A cell or organism of containing three or more complete setsof chromosomes.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits whose phenotypes are usually continuously distributed.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: A plant, often developedthrough the backcrossing technique, having essentially all of thedesired morphological and physiological characteristics of givenvariety, expect that at one locus it contains the genetic material(e.g., an allele) from a different variety. Genetic transformation mayalso be used to develop single locus converted plants.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tetraploid: A cell or organism having four sets of chromosomes.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a tomato plant by transformation.

Triploid: A cell or organism having three sets of chromosomes.

G. Deposit Information

A deposit of tomato line CHI 15-2113, line CHD 15-2114 and hybrid tomatovariety BX 0154 3756, disclosed above and recited in the claims, hasbeen made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. Upon issuance of a patent,all restrictions upon the deposit will be removed, and the deposit isintended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. Theaccession number for those deposited seeds of tomato line CHI 15-2113,deposited on Apr. 24, 2007, is ATCC Accession No. PTA-8378. Theaccession number for those deposited seeds of tomato line CHD 15-2114,deposited on Jun. 2, 2008, is ATCC Accession No. PTA-9240. The accessionnumber for those deposited seeds of tomato variety BX 0154 3756,deposited on Apr. 24, 2007, is ATCC Accession No. PTA-8379. The depositswill be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5years after the last request, or for the effective life of the patent,whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary during thatperiod.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

REFERENCES

The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplaryprocedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, arespecifically incorporated herein by reference:

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1-4. (canceled)
 5. A tomato plant comprising at least a first set of thechromosomes of tomato line CHD 15-2114, a sample of seed of said linehaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-9240.
 6. A seedcomprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of tomato line CHD15-2114, a sample of seed of said line having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-9240.
 7. A plant grown from the seed of claim
 6. 8.The plant of claim 5, which is inbred.
 9. The plant of claim 5, which ishybrid.
 10. (canceled)
 11. The plant of claim 8, wherein the inbredplant is tomato line CHD 15-2114.
 12. (canceled)
 13. A plant part of theplant of claim
 5. 14. The plant part of claim 13, further defined as afruit, a rootstock, a scion, a cell, an ovule and pollen.
 15. A tomatoplant, or a part thereof, having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the tomato plant of claim
 7. 16. (canceled)
 17. Atomato plant, or a part thereof, having all the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the tomato plant of claim
 11. 18.(canceled)
 19. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant ofclaim
 5. 20. The tissue culture according to claim 19, comprising cellsor protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting ofembryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, roottips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 21. A tomato plant regeneratedfrom the tissue culture of claim
 19. 22. A method of vegetativelypropagating a plant of tomato line CHD 15-2114 comprising the steps of:(a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from a plant of tomatoline CHD 15-2114, a sample of seed of said line having been depositedunder ATCC Accession Number PTA-9240; (b) cultivating said tissue toobtain proliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots toobtain rooted plantlets.
 23. (canceled)
 24. The method of claim 22,further comprising growing plants from said rooted plantlets.
 25. Amethod of introducing a desired trait into a tomato line comprising: (a)crossing a plant of line CHD 15-2114, a sample of seed of said linehaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-9240, with asecond tomato plant that comprises a desired trait to produce F1progeny; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises the desired trait;(c) crossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant of line CHD 15-2114 toproduce backcross progeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprisingthe desired trait and the physiological and morphological characteristicof tomato line CHD 15-2114; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three ormore times in succession to produce selected fourth or higher backcrossprogeny that comprise the desired trait.
 26. A tomato plant produced bythe method of claim
 25. 27. A method of producing a plant comprising anadded desired trait, the method comprising introducing a transgeneconferring the desired trait into a plant of tomato line CHD 15-2114, asample of seed of said line having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-9240.
 28. A method of determining the genotype of the plantof claim 5 or a first generation progeny thereof, comprising obtaining asample of nucleic acids from said plant and detecting in said nucleicacids a plurality of polymorphisms.
 29. The method of claim 28, furthercomprising the step of storing the results of detecting the plurality ofpolymorphisms on a computer readable medium.
 30. (canceled)
 31. A methodfor producing a seed of a line derived from tomato line CHD 15-2114comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a tomato plant of line CHD15-2114, a sample of seed of said line having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-9240, with a second tomato plant; and (b) allowingseed of a line CHD 15-2114-derived tomato plant to form.
 32. The methodof claim 31, further comprising the steps of: (c) crossing a plant grownfrom said line CHD 15-2114-derived tomato seed with itself or a secondtomato plant to yield additional line CHD 15-2114-derived tomato seed;(d) growing said additional line CHD 15-2114-derived tomato seed of step(c) to yield additional line CHD 15-2114-derived tomato plants; and (e)repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) to generatefurther line CHD 15-2114-derived tomato plants.
 33. The method of claim31, wherein the second tomato plant is of an inbred tomato line. 34-46.(canceled)
 47. A method of producing at least a first tomato comprising:(a) obtaining the plant of claim 5, wherein the plant has beencultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting at least a first tomato fromthe plant.
 48. (canceled)
 49. A tomato plant produced by the method ofclaim
 27. 50. A seed that produces the plant of claim
 26. 51. A seedthat produces the plant of claim 49.